"Romance is our message and couples are our market.” There, you’ve got it in one sentence. From the horse’s mouth. Not from the Arabian thoroughbreds that are on the stud farm surrounding Combe House that stands in splendid isolation in a wooded Devon valley.

No, from one of the proprietors, Ruth Hunt. Along with husband Ken, they are passionate about what they do – running a country house hotel. They are warm and welcoming, but consummately professional – Ken in a seemingly languid sort of way, Ruth with bubbling efficiency – and this is reflected in the rest of the cheerful staff who genuinely want you to relax and enjoy your stay. Nothing appears to be too much trouble. As Ruth says: “We’re happy if you’re happy.”

And they seem to have made several couples really happy now that they have the Combe Thatch Cottage to go with the 15 rooms in the main house. In the guest book I read: “This was the most wonderful experience ever as I was proposed to by my love!” “Thank you for our perfect wedding day. It was beyond all our dreams and expectations. We certainly know where we are coming for our anniversaries.” “The best start to our married life together.”

Which is pretty damn euphoric … but I also liked: “Beautiful and eventful! Thanks.” I bet the exclamation mark is a direct result of a close encounter with, and in, the splendid copper stand-alone bath which is, surprise, surprise … big enough for two.

Combe House Hotel, Gittisham, Devon

There's a cottage in the grounds which is nearly perfect...

Abode, Exeter

A cathedral in the bedroom and cracking food from the Michelin-starred Michael Caines

BACKGROUND

• Northcote Country Manor House Hotel, Burrington, North Devon

• Soar Mill, Salcombe, Devon

• Hotel Endsleigh, Tavistock, Devon

• Gidleigh Park, Chagford, Devon

• Bovey Castle, Dartmoor, Devon

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The cottage is an inspired addition to the hospitality on offer at Combe. As Ken says: “We were half way through the refurbishment of the cottage and were intending to let it out as a self-catering unit. Then we thought, hell, no – let’s do something special for couples who want to get away and chill.

They can completely escape to their own little world here.” Hoteliers must love anniversaries as much as greeting card manufacturers. If a couple is launched idyllically at Combe, then it’s a bunch of red roses to a measly marigold that they will return on their special day …

Completely refurbished (and thatched) in 2006, the cottage is tucked away in the woods at the entrance to the hotel (a mile away up the drive). It has its own private walled garden, and many of the original cottage features have been enhanced and embellished with comfortable contemporary furnishings in shades of natural linen and limestone. Carefully placed antiques and mildly erotic nude sculptures add to the charm.

But the Research Assistant, being a simple country girl at heart, was more impressed with the Aga than the smellies and fluffy white bathrobes. I thought she was going to swoon when she saw the four ring gas hob, in addition, beside it. Her joy was complete when she inspected the wood burner in the inglenook – it was laid ready to fire up in this year’s chilly wet June.

“The detail is very good,” enthused RA. “Loose tea, not bags, fresh milk in the fridge and fresh flowers in all rooms. A utility room for the dogs. Just perfect for you to dry them off in before they are let in to the house …Did you bring their towel?”

I made a mental note to ask one of the charming staff – either Marta from Poland engaged to Nick from Tasmania, or Devonians Leanne or Mark – if they could get me an old one … I’m sure that would not be too much trouble …and it would make me and the dogs very happy …

Dinner was taken in the main hotel, a pleasant stroll away up the drive through scruffily elegant park land of magnificent oaks and beeches and meadows of grass (for the equine Arabs) and wild flowers … or it would have been if it had not been sheeting down with rain. (But if you prefer and it is ‘a special occasion’, the chef can create a romantic candlelit dinner for you to enjoy in the cottage.)

Pre-prandial drinks were taken in front of a log fire in the main wood paneled hall with serious looking ancestors peering down at us. Bishop Odo, half brother of William the Conqueror, is the first recorded owner of the Combe estate and then it passed through generations of Beaumonts and Putts and since 1846 it has been in the Marker family.

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